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10 Marine Fisheries Information Service T&E Ser., No. 196, 2008
The fish landings were good during November-March
with peak production in November. Least catch was
recorded during August (Fig.18).
Fig. 18. Annual landings (%) of all fish from the
non-mechanized sector at Andhra Pradesh
the total length and mean (all gears combined) for
the major commercially important pelagic fishes
during 2005 and 2006 combined are given in Table
5a.
Similar trends were noticed in the case of
commercially important demersal fin fishes and
crustaceans. The trawl net was the major gear for
demersal and crustacean resources. Studies on the
biology and growth of the different species were based
on samples taken from trawl landings (Table 5b). The
catch of most of the groups studied (threadfin breams,
lizardfish, sciaenids, goatfishes and pomfrets)
registered an increase since 2000.
Sex-ratio (Male:Female) and length at first
maturity (L m
) of commercially important species were
studied. The details are given in Table 6. Lengthweight
relationship of major species was estimated
during this study (Table 7). The 'b' value ranged from
2.6 for Sardinella gibbosa to 3.3 for Rastrelliger
Table 5a.Contribution of major pelagic species with their length range and mean in different gears
Group Species % of Gearwise percentage Total mean
species Trawl seines Gillnet H&L length
in group
Mackerel Rastrelliger 96.3 24.8 35.4 39.7 0.1 7.0-25.5 19.5
kanagurta
R.faughni 3.7 96.2 3.8
Sardines 8.9 51.9 39.1 0.1
S.gibbosa 76.3 3.5-19.0 12.3
Ribbonfish Trichiurus lepturus 100.0 60.2 17.0 22.8 16.0-90.0 52.7
Seerfish S.commerson 68.0 6.9 9.0 72.9 11.2 35-100
S.guttatus 32.0 6.9 9.0 72.9 11.2 20-58 36.3
Tunas Thunnus albacares 56.4 100.0 30-172 107.9
Euthynnus affinis 20.5 100.0 24-54
Katsuwonus pelamis 23.1 100.0
Biology of important groups
Important biological parameters, biological
reference points, growth and stock structure of
thirteen commercially important species that formed
regular fishery along the Andhra coast were studied.
Among the pelagic fishes, studies were carried out
on mackerel, sardines, ribbonfish, seerfish and tunas.
During the study period, catch of most of the pelagic
fishes like sardines, ribbonfish and seerfish registered
an increase. However, the catch of mackerel declined
(Fig.5). Species composition, gearwise distribution,
kanagurta The growth and stock parameters of
commercially important finfish and crustacean
species were estimated (Table 8). The annual growth
coefficient ranged from 0.2 (Trichiurus lepturus) to
1.7 (Rastrelliger kanagurta).
The total marine fish production along Andhra
Coast has indicated positive trend during the past few
years despite fluctuations in annual catch. Increase
in catch over the years has been due to several factors
like increased landings of sardines, mackerel,
ribbonfish, croakers, carangids and elasmobranchs